Too much emphasis on "caring"

Nurses General Nursing

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I've gone back to school to get my BSN. I knew it would involve a lot of nursing theory and writing papers, but I figured I could handle it.

After having to read and write about Watson and Ray and all this caring nonsense, I'm ready to pull my hair out. If I have to read the word "caring" one more time I might go off the deep end.

After having been an RN for 5 years, I've seen enough to know that nursing is in trouble. Hospitals are trying to dumb us down, grind us down until we are nothing but broken bodies with broken spirits only to replace us with any one of the next 500 new grads ready to take our place. We are a necessary evil they must deal with to run the hospital. Nursing care is included with the cost of room and board for crying out loud!!

Nursing does not need any more emphasis on caring! We have enough of that, in fact a little too much. What nursing needs is more emphasis on science, health care economics, and efforts to make nursing into a true profession. We need more autonomy. If we actually charged for nursing care and made money for the hospital instead of being included with the room rate, then we could start on the road to real autonomy. If we had autonomy, we wouldn't get "write ups" like we were children. We would have an active voice in the way the hospital runs. We wouldn't be short staffed and have no control over patient assignments. We need to recruit people who are not afraid to stand up for what's right, who want to learn the science of nursing, who are caring yet interested in furthering nursing as a whole. Right now we don't have that. Maybe it's too late and maybe we never will.

I'm sorry for the rant, but I'm so frustrated right now. I care about nursing, I care about patients. This is making me re-think continuing my nursing career. Thank you for listening.

Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

I think that nursing care should be chosen by the patient, just as patients now choose each meal/snacks/drink from the "gourmet" menu. For instance, there would be a Nursing Care Menu from which the patient would choose the level of caregiver for each 4-hour period. Basic Care = CNA. Basic Care + PO Meds = LPN. Basic Care + (patient choice) PO/IV Meds = ADN RN. Basic Care + (patient choce) PO/IV Meds + Management Skills = BSN. Basic Care + (patient choice) PO/IV Meds + Management Skills + Script Authority = NPTalk about PG scores escalating!! Since the patient is responsible for choosing his/her own Care Delivery Facilitator, there would be an automatic uptick in patient satisfaction. :) :) :)

Nursing is a science and an art.

Patients are very much aware if their nurse cares. They have no clue what a huge scientific knowledge base is required to provide their care.

Patients assume we know what is needed to provide their medical care.

Delivering that care with a human touch ... (caring) is what makes us nurses.

Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
After having been an RN for 5 years, I've seen enough to know that nursing is in trouble. Hospitals are trying to dumb us down, grind us down until we are nothing but broken bodies with broken spirits only to replace us with any one of the next 500 new grads ready to take our place. We are a necessary evil they must deal with to run the hospital. Nursing care is included with the cost of room and board for crying out loud!!

Nursing does not need any more emphasis on caring! We have enough of that, in fact a little too much. What nursing needs is more emphasis on science, health care economics, and efforts to make nursing into a true profession. We need more autonomy. If we actually charged for nursing care and made money for the hospital instead of being included with the room rate, then we could start on the road to real autonomy. If we had autonomy, we wouldn't get "write ups" like we were children. We would have an active voice in the way the hospital runs. We wouldn't be short staffed and have no control over patient assignments. We need to recruit people who are not afraid to stand up for what's right,

*** Oh hospital administration doesn't want to recruit people like that. Why do you think there is currently such a BSN only hiring fad? New grads BSN' typicaly being younger, much more in debt, and having little to no experience in other fields, or the world for that matter are seen as less likely to rock the boat. That makes them more desirable from a hospital administration's point of view.

Specializes in psych, addictions, hospice, education.

Caring isn't just the emotional touchy-feel-y stuff. It's also being invested enough in giving patients what they need, so that we learn skills that do just that. It's working toward competency and beyond because it's what we should be doing and we get it.

...didja know Florence, our fearless nursing leader spent only a few years out in the field, and then spent years in her bed, and more years only leaving her bedroom when carried? She spent those years writing and founded our profession then. She was independently wealthy, so she could do this.

Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

Well then I guess it won't be off-topic to post this link to the actual voice of Florence Nightingale in 1890. She's saying,

'When I am no longer even a memory, just a name, I hope my voice may perpetuate the great work of my life. God bless my dear old comrades of Balaclava and bring them safe to shore."

.Florence Nightingale 2nd rendition, 1890: greetings to the dear old comrades of Balaclava

*** Oh hospital administration doesn't want to recruit people like that. Why do you think there is currently such a BSN only hiring fad? New grads BSN' typicaly being younger, much more in debt, and having little to no experience in other fields, or the world for that matter are seen as less likely to rock the boat. That makes them more desirable from a hospital administration's point of view.

These are my thoughts too.

Specializes in FNP, ONP.

I disagree. Watson's caring science has influenced my life and practice more than anything else in my education or experience.

When I was in my BSN program a few years ago I told the other students about allnurses during our nursing theory class. So we posted a thread about this very issue. Our school was founded in the name of Jean Watson and she came to our school to speak so I've met her. She's nice but a bit flakey.

Since I started here back in 2002, there have been many threads about nursing theory. They can get quite hot so I'm pleased to see how this one has progressed. Very good thoughts for the OP.

:up:

Please continue in school for a nursing doctorate and make these changes take place. I am also affected by the caring image and am on several committees and projects to be part of the change I want to see happen.

Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.
Well then I guess it won't be off-topic to post this link to the actual voice of Florence Nightingale in 1890. She's saying,

'When I am no longer even a memory, just a name, I hope my voice may perpetuate the great work of my life. God bless my dear old comrades of Balaclava and bring them safe to shore."

.Florence Nightingale 2nd rendition, 1890: greetings to the dear old comrades of Balaclava

Thanks for the link. I used to have it, but lost it when a computer crashed. Now I have it again to share with my class. Somehow, hearing her actual voice makes her more "real" to me.

Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.

Interesting thread.

I agree with the theory of "caring" as encompassing what we as nurses do for patients and inclusive of the charting, planning, advocacy that patients don't really see. And given that definition of "caring", perhaps your school gives just the right amount of emphasis. The word I think is over-emphasized is "compassion." That word seems to mean nothing beyond "give me what I want and that to which I feel entitled." It's overused as a bludgeon with which to condemn nurses whose priorities you disagree with or who failed to bring you that tub of ice cream just because your blood sugar was 456.

I agree with the person that said nursing is an art and a science. It should NEVER be about being either/or. If the caring component isn't there, all the science and evidence-based practice in the world will only go so far.

Caring, compassion, as well as balancing critical thinking and the science of practice should always be paramount. It's not just a business, and it's not just a science. It is an applied science that demands CARING and COMPASSION in order to achieve true excellence.

Please stop dividing the two. Furthermore, the caring must extend not only to patients and families, but to each other as colleagues.

Again, it's not an either/or kind of thing.

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